Law & Order

MOULTON

Man faces meth charges

A domestic altercation between a man and his wife led law enforcement agents to a methamphetamine lab in the couple's residence, authorities said Monday.

Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Mitchell said the discovery of the meth lab resulted in the arrest of William Chase Obrien, 23, who has a Danville address but lives in Lawrence County.

Obrien is charged with first-degree unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, domestic violence third-degree assault and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, the sheriff said.

Mitchell said when officers arrived at the residence, which is in the Piney Grove community, they were met by Obrien's wife. She told deputies that she and her husband were involved in a verbal altercation after she found what she believed to be a meth lab inside their home.

Mitchell said officers then questioned her husband, who was still inside the residence.

"While talking with Mr. Obrien, deputies noticed numerous items of drug paraphernalia inside the residence," Mitchell said.

He said deputies received consent to search the residence and discovered a meth lab hidden under the house.

Mitchell said that Lawrence Drug Task Force agents were called to the residence and several other items associated with meth manufacturing were found.

Mitchell said Obrien is in jail on bail of $32,000.

MOULTON

Four arrested on drug charges

Numerous complaints about the possible sale of illegal drugs in east Lawrence County has led authorities to the arrest of four people.

Lawrence County Sheriff Gene Mitchell said members of the county's drug task force searched the residence at 2160 Lawrence 369, Trinity, which is in the East Lawrence community.

Three people were arrested on felony charges, while another faces a misdemeanor charge.

Those arrested on felony charges were:

• Ray Van Burin Watkins Sr., 54, 2160 Lawrence 369, Trinity; first-degree possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Adrian Smith, 32, Lawrence 556, Trinity; failure to register as a sex offender, failure to appear on two counts of domestic violence third-degree assault.

• Michael McGhee Watkins, 23, 2160 Lawrence 369, Trinity; failure to appear on unlawful possession of marijuana charges.

ARRESTS

Lauderdale sheriff

Cedrick Rick Perkins, 50, 439 Cherry Hill Homes, Florence; unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Colbert sheriff

A Wii, game controller, two computer games and $450 in personal items were taken from a residence on Pineywoods Road, Leighton.

Sheffield police

A jar of peanuts, a dinner plate, four packs of noodles, $120 in change and a gray and black man's shirt were taken from a residence in the 2500 block 14th

Avenue.

Seven necklaces, $100 in cash, a gold ring with four diamonds, three-piece silver ring set with diamonds and three DVDs were taken from a residence in the 1500 block of Manning Drive.

Three air conditioning window units and two exterior windows were taken from a residence in the 1000 block of Annapolis Avenue.

A central air conditioning unit and scrap aluminum were taken from a business in the 700 block of Second Street. Two locks and fencing were damaged.

A laptop was taken from a business on Hatch Boulevard.

A bag of cheese curls and a pastry were taken from a business on South Montgomery Avenue.

Cash totaling $33 and a five-drawer filing cabinet were taken from a business in the 1100 block of South Jackson Highway.

A plate glass window and door at a business in the 600 block of South Montgomery were damaged.